Lagos Pastor, 3 Others Paraded Over Alleged Bank Robbery

Lagos – The police in Lagos on Thursday paraded four suspected armed robbers, including a pastor, whose gang specialises in attacking banks.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Manko, who paraded the suspects, also displayed 12 AK-47 rifles, two K2 rifles, 30 fully loaded AK-47 magazines and one pump action gun.
Other items displayed include one police Walkie-Talkie, one hammer, one iron cutter, eight gas cylinders and one ATM card destroyed by the suspects during operation.

Manko said that three other suspects, belonging to the gang were killed in gun battle with the police in different operations.

He noted that the gang had attacked the Access Bank Branch at Ayobo, near Lagos on Nov. 16, 2013, killing three police officers attached to the Ayobo Divisional Police Office, carting away their rifles.

The commissioner said the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) had an encounter with the gang on Nov. 20, 2013 at Ilasamaja, where two members of the gang were “fatally wounded and arms were recovered.

“Diligent investigation and deployment of advanced technology-driven investigation by SARS led to the arrest of four king-pins.

“On Feb. 2, SARS got information about the secret house rented by one of the killed suspects. Immediately the house was traced at Alimosho area and searched.

“Seven AK-47 rifles, two K2 rifles, one pump action gun were found concealed in a plastic drum in the kitchen of the suspect. All the suspects arrested have confessed to the Ayobo Access Bank robbery.

“They also confessed to have been involved in First Bank Idimu ATM robbery, Zenith Bank Malu Road, Ajegunle, robbery, Diamond Bank at Pen Cinema among others,’’ Manko said. (NAN)